Next-gen BMW G20 3 Series to be lighter and more premium

The next BMW 3 Series – due out in 2019 – will not only bring great technology to the table, but also a more daring …

The next BMW 3 Series – due out in 2019 – will not only bring great technology to the table, but also a more daring design. According to our sources, and corroborated by Auto Motor und Sport as well, the design of the new 3er will be more progressive than the recent models, with an emphasize on sportiness and visual appeal.

The dimensions of the new BMW 3 Series are also growing. The sprawling width will grow slightly. Six centimeters more are available in length of which two centimeters are given to the wheelbase. This will benefit the passengers which will get additional interior space and more loading space for their luggage. In terms of interior quality, new BMW 3 Series will be significantly upgraded. The new BMW CEO Harald Krüger wants to react to customer criticism, therefore the displays, the operating system and the infotainment are also to be significantely upgraded compared to the current generatio. The number of physical buttons is reduced, so expect to see new ways to interact with your car and more use of digital buttons and displays.

In the basic version, the G20 3 Series gets analog instruments and a touch display in the center console. Optionally, there is a large display facing the driver. A digital combination instrument is also available at an additional cost. The head-up display will still be available. Gesture and voice control will be introduced for the first time to 3 Series customers, while the iDrive knob will continue to control some of the car’s functions.

Just like the new G30 5 Series, the high-volume seller 3 Series is built upon the CLAR architecture. Thanks to CFRP components and a higher proportion of aluminum, the platform allows the new 3 Series to weigh around 40 kg less than the outgoing model, resulting in a sportier drive and lower fuel consumption.

The engine range consists of aggregates from the new 0.5-liter engine kit. The engine range goes from three-cylinder models to four-cylinder models up to six-cylinder models – all with turbocharging. Consumption and CO2 emissions are down 5 percent, power is up 7 hp and torque about 20 Nm. Among other things, the engines will offer more efficient cooling and more injection pressure (350 instead of 200 bar). In addition to the plug-in hybrid 330e (265 hp in future), there will also be a BMW 325e with 230 hp of power. The electrical range extends from 40 to 50 kilometers.

Diesel customers will not be forgotten. The new engine kit is 5 percent more efficient, while being more powerful. In the 316d, the power goes from 115 to 136 hp, in the 318d from 150 to 163 hp and in the 320d from 190 to 204 hp. In the 325d, there will be 238 ponies instead of 224 hp in the current model.

In the new 3 Series family, there is place for a new model and BMW aims to fill that gap, which basically extends from the 340i to the M3 Sedan. The BMW M340i and M340d will give customers the choice of powerful and sporty 3 Series models, which will differentiate visually from the rest of the pack, and when it comes to the power output.